Fishing bobber



P w. SJBARNHART 2,128,899

FISHING BOBBER Filed m 19, 1957 ATTORNEYS iVz'zzzzm 451501 1171;

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rrsnme BOBBER William S. Barnhart, North Fond du Lac, Wis. Application May 19, 1931, semi No. 143,590 a 2 Claims".

has for the primary object the provision of an eflicient and inexpensive device of this character which will automatically give an illuminating signal when a fish strikes the bait on the line on which the device is connected so that the'fisherman during night fishing may be readily informed or the strike by the fish.

with these and other objects'in View, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. v

For a complete understanding or my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a fishing bobber constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a circuit maker and breaker.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the approximate floating position '01 the device prior to a strike being made on the line by a fish.

Referring' in detail to the'drawing, the numeral l indicates a body constructed of buoyant material and includes a substantially cylindrical portion 2 and a substantially spherical-shaped portion 3. The free end of the portion 2 is tapered and has secured thereto an eye type fastener l to permit the device to be easily connected to a fishing line 5. The spherical-shaped portion 3 of the body has formed therein a chamber 6 which opens outwardly through a face of the portion 3 opposite the portion. 2. Mounted in a portion of the chamber 3 is a threaded ferrule I. A threaded sleeve 8 threads into the ferrule I and forms apart of a battery case 9 constructed or conductive material. A portion of he sleeve 8 is reduced and threaded'to receive a threaded cap ID. The cap l clamps between tseli and the open end of the battery case an nsulating 'disc ll. ype is mounted in the case 9 and is electrically ounded thereto and its terminal engages a ontact l3 carried by the disc II and which is xposed by an opening formed in the cap it.

. support an electric lamp with acontact ereof in engagement with'the contact 13. The

ase S by being threaded onto the sleeve 8. A ntact I6 is supported by and insulated from c case 9 and engages the battery. A bracket This invention relates to fishing bobbers and i A battery l2 of a dry cell.

electric lamp socket H is carried by the cap.

ocket It grounds the electric lamp onto the I1 is carried by the case 9 and has hinged thereon a contact lever l8 provided with a ball engaging portion having a slight curvature thereto. Operating within the walls of the chamber 6 is a ball iS'of insulating material. When the ball gravitates in the chamber 6 .it engages with the curved portion of the lever l8 and brings the opposite end of said lever in engagement with the contact 16 completing the electric circuit from the battery to the electric lamp. The ball I9 is constructed of insulated material so that should it engage with the contact l6 and the lever ill at the same time it will not complete the electric circuit;

' In use, the device is connected to a fishing line a selected distance from the hook and sinker and when cast into the water it will assume a floating position, as shown in Figure 4, that is, with the portion 2 disposed substantially vertically above the surface of the water. The ball, when the 20 device is in this position will move the lever l8 away from the contact l6, breaking the circuit to the electric lamp. However, when a fish strikes the bait onthe hook causing a pull on the line, the device will invert its position from that shown in Figure 3 and the ball gravitating moves the lever l8 in engagement with the contact I 6, completing the electric circuit to the electric lamp, consequently giving a signal which may be clearly seen at night time. What is claimed is:

1. A fishing bobber comprising a buoyant body including an elongated shaped portion and a spherical shaped portion, means for connecting the elongated shaped portion onto a fishing line, said spherical shaped portion having a chamber, a battery supporting means located in said chamber, an electric lamp carried by said battery supporting means, a battery carried by said battery supporting means, and a gravity actuated switch controlling the circuit between said battery and the electric lamp and affected by the position assumed bythe body.

2. A fishing bobber comprising a buoyant'body having a chamber, a battery case mounted in said chamber, a battery. carried by said case, an elec'trlc lamp electrically connected to said battery and supported on said case exteriorly of the body, a bracket carried by said case, a (3021- J tact carried by and insulated from said case and engaging the battery, a pivoted lever carried by said bracket, and a balloperable ln the chamber by gravity to engage and disengage the lever with said contact in, accordance with the positions assumed by the body in the water.

' WILLIAM S. BARNHART. 

